Mission Impossible: Believing Top Gun as a secret agent

I actually don't have a problem with Tom Cruise. I could care less if he's the type of guy who bounces on couches, has a non-Christian religion, and has an interesting tendency to marry women three times taller than him (though that may actually earn him some points in my book)... but, he's known for working WITH the writers and directors (from what I can tell) to make a good film. No wonder people still want to work with him.

BUT.... I always have difficulties seeing him as a secret agent in "Mission Impossible". Dunno why. Is it the script? The direction? The perfect hair and grooming while dodging bullets?

In any case, last night I saw Brad Bird's "Mission Impossible 4" (I refuse to cave in to the trend of NOT numbering sequels. If it's a sequel, be proud of it, dammit! Give it the dignity of a Roman numeral!)--- mainly because I've heard it's the best of the bunch, by far, and many exalt Brad Bird's name.

(I tip my hat to Brad Bird, being an animation director first, but I admit I'm the only human being on the planet that was underwhelmed by "Iron Giant" and "The Incredibles".)

IS it the best of the bunch? And--- can this post tie into why I have issues with Cruise as a secret agent?

Well....cut to the chase- YES, I think it's far better than JJ Abrams'(the guy who did an extremely enjoyable brainless and philosophy-free reboot of Star Trek) Mission Impossible 3- which knew how to grab your interest and keep a film moving....but I'll be damned if I can remember half of the sequences in the film.



The film is a bit longer (and a little more convoluted) than it needed to be, but there are some extremely memorable (and clever) set pieces that feel very fresh. The Russian prison break sequence at the beginning and the dual setups/face-offs at the top of the Dubai building were especially 'fresh' for a rather jaded action moviegoer like myself.

So, there are bits that made me go: "hmm...I've never seen that before done in that way- AND entertaining!" So, kudos for that.

But.

But, it was a distraction from the Tom Cruise/Ethan Hunt* (Speaking of Ethan Hunt- it's a character last name I've never been crazy about. Roddenberry's "Andromeda" had Dylan Hunt as a character name for its lead, and it bugged me there, too. Maybe it sounds too close to an obscenity for my comfort. But maybe that's just me) storyline.

So long as the action moved and some fresh situation was introduced, I was engaged- but pretty much on a superficial level. Abrams' MI:3 got you engaged by having a great villain in the character played by the fantastic Phillip Seymour Hoffman (a character actor who actually would be far more interesting as the secret agent hero imo and Cruise as the villain).... but Brad Bird's version gives you fresh set pieces, even as Tom is just a good looking chess piece that moves around the board in an interesting fashion.

When he stops moving, though, and it's about the human drama--- and I'm asked to REALLY believe he's a secret agent with a Tom Cruise face....then my interest goes more to who's burning the popcorn in the lobby, as opposed to what's onscreen.

Not necessarily Tom's fault. Or maybe it is. Maybe he should have adopted a different look, like he did in the magnificent "Tropic Thunder" film:


Dunno.
Still, I have to admit that of all four Mission Impossible films, the Brad Bird and the John Woo-directed one I enjoyed the most. (MI:2)

Now, I know that a number of die-hard "Mission Impossible" fans hated the second one and felt that slow-motion pigeons and physics-defying motorcycles had no place in a "Mission Impossible" film--- but to me, John Woo was flavoring a Mission Impossible film HIS way--- unrealistic, dreamlike, ridiculous, and yet oddly beautiful at the same time.

While his version may have lacked the dark edge of some of his better films (His Hong Kong films, "A Better Tommorrow", "The Killer", and "Hard-Boiled"--- and in the US: "Face-Off" and I'll argue even the Van-Damme one whose name I forget)--- I found it highly entertaining--- and I bought Cruise as a secret agent in the Woo version, because EVERYTHING was hyper-stylized there. Even the pigeons look handsome in a John Woo film.


Anyhow....so, what's my point creatively?

My point is (I suppose).... if you make a secret agent film- if you're going for realism, then let your star actor look a little scruffy. Tell him he can stop clipping his nose hairs and eat a few extra fries now and then before filming.... like real secret agents do. (Yes, we're assuming that I actually have inside knowledge about the grooming habits and digestive tracts of genuine secret agents)

If you're NOT going for realism--- go for broke. Gimme the cool secret agent cars that can transform into flying robots, evil demonic pigeons that can fire lazers out of their eye sockets, fembots that have multiple interchangeable eyebrows that can cut diamonds....well, you get the picture.

I'm NOT going to be on the edge of my seat worried about fake nuclear bombs that may destroy a fake United States. Give me a real threat like wiping out a beloved supporting character you made me care about on screen and make me feel like the villain HAS to be stopped. Or, evil demonic pigeons. Colorful ones with big, terrifying feet the size of Arizona.

Otherwise, you're going to bore me with your fake threats and I'm just going to sit in my theatre seat thinking about the bad economy and the burning popcorn in the lobby.

Now, THAT's scary.

Retrospective: Looking back at Logan's Run....what IS it about that film?

Recently, I've been revisiting movies that I've caught in my youth- and trying to gain some perspective and insight from viewing them.... and it's always odd to see which ones make you go, "Wow, I forgot how great this film really was- I never noticed how well done this/that was done. I truly appreciate it being older and knowing some of the ins and outs of how difficult it might have been to achieve that." - or - "WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING???? I MUST HAVE BEEN INSANE!!! THIS IS (fill in your own endearing term for excrement)!!!"

Well....most of the time, I find most of the films I returned to, it's a bit of both.

Case in point: LOGAN'S RUN, starring Michael York (who was the original "Luke Skywalker" of the classic Richard Lester "The Three Musketeers") as Logan-5 and Jessica Agutter (who I'll talk about more in a minute) as Jessica-6.


For those unfamiliar, LOGAN'S RUN was a 1976 pre-Star Wars (read: not-so great special effects) science fiction epic, based on a science fiction novel of the same name by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson. (More information can be found here:
http://www.snowcrest.net/fox/loganbook/index.htm)

But, in a nutshell, Logan's Run- the book- was based on a society where everything is perfect, but with one cost: No one was allowed to live past 21. If so, you were hunted down by a police force known as the Sandmen. (Pretty clever, eh?)


I knew about the movie (but wasn't nearly old enough to drive yet) but caught onto the comics by David Kraft and George Perez--- and LOVED the artwork by Perez (whose comic work was in his highest gear imo at this time). (*Sidenote: In an interview with Perez years later, he HATED the movie, but was determined to prove himself to Marvel Comics by giving this comic book adaption his all--- and it shows. It's easily the best drawn and designed comic adaptation of a movie- ever.)

I could go on and on about how inventive George Perez was in comic book storytelling early on- (*Sadly, much like other artists during the bronze age, like Barry Windsor-Smith and Dave Cockrum, his style changed and became more detailed but somehow a lot less interesting. But that's another post.) If you look at the above example, I still marvel at how interesting he's made what's basically a pretty static conversation between two characters.


In another great example, Perez does something that even film can't do--- it crosscuts between two lines of action (The android named Box creating a sculpture out of the two characters while Logan and Jessica discover the secret of "Sanctuary")- but in a way that allows the reader to choose the pacing of what to follow first simultaneously.

It's one of many examples that Perez has done that really illustrates how comics CAN be a superior form of communication to film in many ways. (Mastering a way to translate that to the computer is the next stage imo, but that's also another post).


Anyhow, the comic got me interested in the movie, and seeing the movie as a kid--- one thing about seeing the movie as a kid is the ability to overlook a lot of things that, as an adult, would be easy to poke holes at critically.

The movie definitely looks dated- that's a given- with the stuntwork and effects taking the biggest hit (it's a bit funky to see stuntmen STAND and WAIT for lazer explosions to go off before moving).... but the oddest thing is that it still works, from the cheesiness of the costuming (everyone wears a different colored toga, depending on what stage of life you're at, unless you're a sandman, then you get a cool black turtleneck with blue striping and a lazertag gun)to the use of a megasize dressed up shopping mall as paradise, to the giant (but fake looking) domed city miniatures.

I think it still works, because it's a dark fairy tail whose theme resonates. It's a concept that is hauntingly attractive and repulsive at the same time. The idea of staying youthful and energetic, without limits--- and hunting down and destroying the weak and dying parts about oneself and society will always strike a nerve of sorts. (This aspect was the most interesting thing about the Leo DeCaprio film, "The Island"-- where everything was shaped to be paradise... but the cost of it was the tribe abandoning you if you happened to weaken or get sick.)



For sure, one thing that doesn't age are performances and musical scores (well, there are exceptions, but I don't wanna go there). Jerry Goldsmith is a legend (for good reason), but it was striking how much his music helped carry the tone of what was supposed to be conveyed. (*Much like Vangelis did for Blade Runner- the workprint for that film REALLY shows just how much was lacking without it, despite brilliant visuals)

The first 'hunt' by Logan-5 and his best cop/Sandman buddy (played by the excellent Richard Jordan) Francis-5 shows them to have the time of their life hunting down a 'runner' (The name given by people who turn 30- as opposed to 21 in the book- who want to keep on living, but run away, versus subject themselves to a process called "Carousel"--- where supposedly they may have a chance to 'Renew' and live again- though this is never fully explained in the film) - but the psychosis behind it is magnificently underlined by Jerry Goldsmith's score. It's exciting for these Sandmen to feel like they're justified in killing these 'bad' runners, as it's the law, but it's extremely perverse as well, and the score takes that idea home.

Eventually, the tables turn when the central computer prematurely ages Logan-5, and takes away a few of his years, with the idea that he must go undercover as a 'runner'- and discovers that Jessica-6 (A gal who Logan has a blind internet/transporter date with, who is a link to an underground movement for people who want to live past 30 and defy the law) and the movie works as well as it can for most of it- but for me, both the movie and the book fall apart with the last act.

(Do I really need to say,'spoiler alert'? Vomit.) The last act of the book, in order to escape, Logan and Jessica (I'm not kidding) get on a rocket and fly to the moon.
(WHAAAATTT???)

In the movie, Logan and Jessica escape outside of the domed paradise city/shopping mall, and find a happy senior citizen who hangs out with a million cats- who everyone adores, once Logan and Jessica destroy the city (and its food and water supply presumably) as well.
(WHAAAATTTT???)

Still--- up until then, what keeps one going with the movie is the premise (unthough unfilled) and incredibly strong acting by York and Jessica Agutter for what's going on around them. There's a lot to like in the cinematography (Did I mention how picky I am on compositions of shots?), and the director seems smart by the commentary, but the staging of some of the sequences definitely seem pretty bad- fine for the stage, but fairly unconvincing (i.e.- in one scene, a runner basically throws her arms at Logan so that she can grab them- to make the transition work where she is 'struggling' to get away.) Anyhow, nitpicking for an old movie.... but Agutter in particular is our entry point- and I was suprised in dissecting the film just how much she's the anchor for believing in the film. (Not that York is anything less- but York is the one going through changes, questioning himself, whereas Agutter's character is pretty solid in her convictions throughout)

Anyhow--- It's a film that I'm not suprised that has stuck in people's minds over the years... it has a visual concept married to a premise that strikes a chord and a question mark behind it: how long do we really want to live? How long should we live?

It's a question that I'm sad that Bryan Singer (who was going to direct a remake) didn't get a chance to address in an updated movie. Whoever remakes it.... hopefully they grab the premise and really take the unanswered question home to some fulfilling answer (or resolution- I'm not picky)--- the books, the comic books, the movie, and the tv show never got to.

If not, maybe I should do a fan comic and do it myself. Bwahaha...ha...hm.

My Tim Burton Planet of the Apes, Discovering Community in 2011 & creating the League of Extraordinary Writers in 2012

Had a GREAT (when I say 'great'- of course it means I think it's great, which, since it's my blog, it's good enough)idea for a Tim Burton version of "Planet of the Apes" this morning...

Now, I'm talking about that confusion 'what the hell is THIS?' movie that Tim Burton directed years back with the Rick Baker makeup and a megamillion budget (Is Hollywood part of the 1%? Who knows? I just know that I will be pissed off if the Occupy movement occupies my favorite movie theatres).

Anyhow- thinking about that wonderful Tim Burton spirited version of Planet of the Apes I'd write for Tim led to me realize how much I was missing MAKING time to write as a priority, much as missing MAKING time to draw fell off the map several times in the past when I stupidly brought portfolios to comic conventions and let my spirit get decimated by reviewers, give up drawing & writing altogether and focus on being practical by being a miserable accountant for the rest of my life. (Which didn't quite work itself, how sad is that?)

Anyhow- that thought led to thinking about the writing groups that I'd gather together now and then- that had short life spans, but during those life spans- they were pretty successful in getting people out of their creative closets and getting back to that dream screenplay or novel or comic that they were always were dreaming of completing in their youth.



Anyhow- that thought led to me thinking about "Community"- a wonderful show reccomended to me by a good friend - that has evolved into a sort of "Mel Brooks meets College Drama" show, where now just about every movie or tv genre is the basis for an episode. While extremely enjoyable, the one serious thought brought about in an episode was the idea that a person is shown to live longer being IN a community than not.

Anyhow- that leads me to my goal to getting free of a lot of junk that has bogged my creative life down--- internally and externally- and reforming a local "League of Extraordinary Writers".

And, unlike other posts talking about creative goals and deadlines in 2009-2011--- this year, the idea is to actually catchup and achieve them. *sigh*

A break with Mel Brooks and Ludicrous Speed

This week is unfortunately/fortunately stuck with taking care of life biz, as I prep my schedule to finish up Faith and BC and possibly commentary on "Vangelis" later on.

In the meantime, during my break, I saw Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs"- a rather goofy (and dated) parody of the Star Wars films. I think Mel's earlier films (Producers, 12 Chairs, then Young Frankenstein) were his best--- maybe not coincidentally because he was paired up with the brilliant comedian Gene Wilder.

I always get SOMETHING out of commentaries... aside from being reminded of joys that can come from trying to make a film- Was interesting to hear Mel Brooks talk about how much he HATES directing, that he loves writing and acting, but directing as the biggest pain because of having to communicate to actors often about how their interpretation may not be the right one.

Also interesting that Mel Brooks first choice was not to act in his films, but have Gene Wilder take his place.

It's interesting also to view this, shortly after the Woody Allen documentary--- would have been interesting to hear each of these movie comedians' views of one another's work, but o well...

Anyhow- I don't know how great "Spaceballs" is.... there are a few laughs here and there, but even as a kid, I thought it was a little lame. (Much preferred Young Frankenstein) But (just like the awful "Howard the Duck")- apparently there are audiences that LOVE the film.

Would be nice to feel that decades later, the same kind of love would go to stuff that anyone puts their passion into that bombs, but that's wishful thinking.

I'm realizing that waiting for applause (even a virtual kind) for work is a fool's errand. It's easy to get sucked into wanting a pat on the back. It's harder to tune out the rest of the world and just listen to your inner muse, whatever your art is- but at the end of your life, if you make it to old age, and all your friends and family dies before you, what else have you got?

One argument is that all art is pointless. But, if it is even the slightest bit important, I think you've got to give all you got.

Even if you can't go at ludicrous speed to get it done.

Starting Fresh with 2012....(sorta/kinda/maybe)

It's a New Year!
Much like Xmas or Boxing Day, even though a cynic would say that it's just another day--- I prefer to embrace the opportunity to feel that dates are symbolic, and that symbols can have importance and power-

So, given that---
And trying to take what I hope I've learned about juggling finances/time/family with creative pursuits (as well as what I can and can't complete on time)....

Neil Gaiman once said at comicon that there were two secrets to writing (and I take it as the same formula for creating comics and amateur films)---

#1: You must write.
#2: You must finish what you write.

Anyhow, with a new year, comes crazy asian new year's resolutions.... one of which will be getting past procrastination and other bad habits which derail me from getting things done-

So- anyhow....
Will be reporting on the sitch with Black Canary soon-
Will be putting up more inked (and re-drawn) Faith pages soon-
Will be writing more regularly on this blog on creative discoveries that I find/come across --- why?

Because stories and the process of creating them is/are the only sane thing that makes sense to me in a crazy world, and... why not? It's my blog, after all...

Happy New Year's to all!*

(*Well, except for a chosen few who I hope get run over by a truck and struck by lightning while eating bugs, but that's only a chosen few...)
;)

CAM

Repost....Faith Fan Comic #1- New pages on the way....

(Click on pages to magnify)














A few preview sketches...

November

I guess I could be embarrassed that the gap between my estimation of when I get things done, versus when they actually get done is bigger than the Grand Canyon, but I choose not to.

Recently watched the William Shatner "Captains" (yes, it's primarily a vanity project, but given that) interview film with himself & the other actors who've played captains for Star Trek, and a couple of interesting bits came out that didn't come as a total suprise, but was a suprise for the actors. One, was how much they realized how family life did (and didn't) have a higher priority versus their creative life. Another was how interesting a real character Avery Brooks is- and his attitude towards things (at least how he seemed in interacting with Shatner) ...pretty accepting of past mistakes as just 'truth' of what things are, rather than judging them in good/bad terms.

How does that relate? I have really chosen to help out with family issues more, and my own creative stuff less of late. That has affected things, more with irritation with promises that get broken over when I would deliver creative projects.

Anyhow-
Having said that...(as Larry Charles would say from "Curb Your Enthusiasm")

* Yes, I STILL have been crawling forward, panel at a time with "Faith"--- No, I haven't sat on it.

* Yes, I AM still working on Black Canary--- but (and I've had this in the back of my mind for awhile) it may not necessarily be all live-action, like 'Kill Bill'. BC is a victim of too many ideas that I'm not sure of which one is the best to complete, not to mention all the life excuses I can throw at it. (Hey, I finished Vangelis and other film projects, so I generally DO finish things, ok?)

In any case, just like Faith, I don't want to dribble things out, but I will say that the storyboards for BC I think is developing REALLY nicely. Live action? Comic? 3d animation? Flash Animation? Cheapo motion comic? Dunno, but I know I like how it's coming along.

When it's finished, it's finished. So, that's all for the moment. Have a great holiday, all.

BLACK CANARY WEB SERIES TRAILER FINALLY HERE!

Ok, I suck at time estimates, as I've promised this quite awhile ago--- but hopefully better late than never...


Hope you all like. (If you don't, then the rest of this particular post may seem very silly or self-indulgent, but I'll assume that you do, and continue as if you do....) ;)

EDIT: 11:32am- Most of the computer glitches with the video have been finally fixed. *sigh*

Trailer Credits:
Cast:
Black Canary - Ashley Buurma
Oracle/Barbara Gordon - Sharon Salazar
Young Black Canary - Sydney Salazar

Crew:
Best Boys (Thug #1 and #2) - Wallace Der & Thomas Ho
Director - Crazy Asian Man/Harvey Chin
Director of Photography - Francis Der & Thomas Ho
Young Black Canary Wrangler - Jason Salazar
Makeup and Hair - Ashley Buurma
Costume Consultant - Eric and XBirds of PreyX
Black Canary Consultant - Jenna Waterford

Anyhow, yup, Wondercon coming around the corner was a good 'push' to complete the trailer. Shout out to Eric, Boran, Toby, Benton and Anson for their encouragement & of course Ashley Buurma, who's been a saint to put up with the ups and downs of getting this bus started for the last TWO (wow) YEARS!

Day One (Of Three Hundred and Sixty Five) of a New Year!

[Let us hope] Happy New Years!
But before I start, a picture:


Because of my love for Star Trek, I cling to the classic tv lingo:
STATUS UPDATE:
* Faith comic- Obviously not done yet
* Black Canary fan film - Obviously not done yet
* Character sketches for "Beyond Forever" studios new project
* Breakfast: One Turkey Dog with condiments and aspirin

FAQ:
* What the f@#$???? IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS+ NOW!!!
I know.... juggling family & money & energy & health has been more of a challenge than ever before, one year it was the health stuff, another year a new baby born to the fold, undoubtedly things will be more challenging as life goes on. I do want to finish it before Wondercon this year, though. (With apologies to Kristy)

HOWEVER:
* I do finish what I start. Black Canary has been the worst/best, partly because of the experience with "Vangelis" (which is a mixed bag best left for a different post)--- partly because I'm extremely critical myself when it comes to comic book film (or video) adaptations. Sadly, producing anything means either: (a) money or (b) being able to be resourceful enough to get people to be able to swap or lend you stuff.

In the last couple of years, people have been under a lot of stress emotionally (and economically) and the timing is more difficult. Not impossible, but difficult. (On the plus side, I still have the green screen frame in the back)

ANYHOW:
* Just to keep myself going, (and keep this updated), decided to combine my semi-personal blog w/this creative blog for this year. At least for the time being. Will see how it goes.

IN THE MEANTIME:
* Visualize Green! (Not just for the environment, but for crazy asian money to be coming forth!) GREEN! GREEN!

In keeping with the Star Trek theme of the day:
Prosper, and live long if you do.
If not,
Live long, and take a valium if you need to.


Make it so!

Pic from the photo shoot....

Photography by Julie Kang copyright 2010.

New photo shoot with new costume...

What's up with the photo shoots? When's the movie going to roll???
Yep, yep, yep. The biggest terror I have is to join the ranks of both the men's hair club and/or the group of fan filmmakers who start off with a giant head of steam, then have no film at the end of the story. Seriously.

But- raising money, Ashley continues to train, and we continue to learn what problems we can anticipate with the action scenes- safety first. Money always needed, too. So, things are progressing.

In the meantime, had a photo shoot with the fantastic Julie Kang. Here's a few snapshots from the video. Hope to get the real pics soon.

Quickee May Update

Hola,
Been busy raising $$$ for the BC project. Script revisions going on. More photos hopefully soon from a studio shoot & video as well.
Best,
CAM

A Tale of Two..Three...Four...FIve Canaries at Wondercon!

(Ashley in our first 'final' costume test)
Wondercon was our first real 'outting' to test the waters of whether or not anyone would actually RECOGNIZE our version of Black Canary as Black Canary. You'd think it would be obvious, but, I try not to take anything for granted. I thought "Vangelis" would be as beloved to "Angel" as "Hardware Wars" was to "Star Wars", but, well... it WASN'T. (And I'll be the first to admit there were some big things that didn't work in that project, but still glad that it was completed.) But, one learns (hopefully!!!), tries harder and better, and hopefully one progresses one step closer to that ideal in one's head.

Anyhow, on the second day of Wondercon, we went out to try to 'test run' the costume. It was a first Wondercon experience for Ashley and Matt, and the first cosplay experience, but while I had noticed some of the things that other more 'professional' cosplayers who were used to taking pictures with Wondercon attendees, I hadn't actually dressed up in costume before, either... but the rules seemed pretty simple- and, by and large, 99% of comic book attendees seem to be pretty good folks, not out to make others have a bad time.

As one would expect from Wondercon, there were a number of amateur photographers and just happy fans with cameras to capture the whole Wondercon experience, with people in superhero costumes walking about, as one of them. In any case, it was fun for us each time someone would nicely ask (and it was all pleasant) for a picture, or sometimes it would be just as gratifying to hear a 'nice costume!' or whispers from shyer convention goers who liked seeing our version of Black Canary pass by. I can't speak for Ashley, but for myself, it was a really neat first experience... and a nice boost that people may really enjoy our Black Canary short films when it's time to come out.

One other unexpected (and slightly dicey) issue was: what happens when one Canary runs into another Canary? (It sounds like a beginning of a joke: "So, two Black Canaries walk into a bar, then...") When I did "Vangelis", "Cherub" also came out at the same time, as we were the first two "Angel" parodies- but the filmmakers at "Cherub" could not be nicer, as well as most of the other Whedon parody filmmakers I ended up in contact with. But.... you do have those on occassion that feel threatened and it just feels weird, imo--- as if you've intruded into someone else's property and trampled their begonias (finally found an opportunity to use that word!) without meaning to. So.

It's too bad. I guess either one could see ten thousand Black Canaries at a convention and one could either say: "How cool! We all recognize the coolness of the Black Canary character!"--- or one could say: "this was my special one and only love, and it's diminished by this other person who couldn't possibly have put the love, time and effort into it, that I have." We got a little of both reactions- Some cosplayers smiled at Ashley and talked to her, 'welcoming her to the cosplay community' so to speak (especially Supergirl and the Star Wars Rebel in the photo) in a way.

Others.... became "Black Canary with the stinkeye from Juno". At the time of the con, I thought it a little funny... but then again, I've become a little callous after dealing with some life/death issues last year--- but after thinking about it, I realize that having a cosplayer with a simliar costume walking around could have been just as painful as having an art portfolio you've worked on for months be rejected in seconds onsite by an editor who may care less. It may seem small to others, it may not be intentional, nor personal, but it can be hugely devastating and inwardly humiliating.

So, I get that now. If you're another Black Canary reading this, then I finally get it. I hope that you enjoy (I hope everyone enjoys, actually) the films we're setting out to do, and hope that you enjoy it as mutual fans of the character, rather than as competition.

Anyhow, that's my blog for now. Things have slowed down much more than I thought it would....but now that the costume is just about right, and with the positive response we've got from Wondercon, hopefully the train will be moving a lot faster from here on out! Thanks, CAM